Miss Begotten is one of my pet names for myself, for Southern Gothic reasons best kept to myself. Miss Begotten tries to speak plainly, but sometimes she tends to babble -- parenthetically, of course. It's never my intention to offend (and usually that's true - except on those [maybe not so] rare occasions when I mean it very friggin' much) but it sometimes happens, so if you're unusually easily offended...

Monday, January 22, 2007

Curiosities

Do you work out of a home office? About 8.25 million Americans do. When it's hard to maintain a professional image with kids crying, the washing machine overflowing, and the dog barking just when you're trying to take an important call, you might want to get out of the house and into an office. If that sounds like you, you might be interested in the Home Office From Hell contest sponsored by Office2Share.com. It's looking for the funniest Top 10 list of reasons you want to escape your home office. The winner will receive a free office for a year, a trip to New York for lunch with George Ross of "The Apprentice," and a nice assortment of Dell office equipment.

The winning entry for 2006 came from Jason Weishonse of Ancient Geek in San Francisco:

1. I have to yell "Phone!" really loud when the phone rings to make sure all TVs and radios get muted so I can answer it.

2. I have started to refer to my pets as employees.

3. My customers are starting to think there are a lot of dogs around my office because my dog always barks when I pick up the phone.

4. I have started answering my home phone with my company name.

5. I had a crazy subcontractor threatening to come to my home to pick up his last check instead of waiting for the mail.

6. It's WAY too easy to go to work on my day off. It's Saturday at 11 p.m. and I'm entering a contest to win office space.

7. I'd rather watch Oprah at 4 p.m. than do my billing.

8. It's hard to cram 10 computers into a spare bedroom. Although I don't need to turn on the heat in the winter.

9. When potential clients hear that I work out of my home, they respond with: "Oh, so you're not a REAL business."

10. When FedEx wants to deliver a package, they want to know if it's a home or office. I always answer, "Yes."

I’m confused about something. There’s a piece of horrible prose being posted in installments on a particular message board, something touted as "perhaps a 'sting manuscript,' perhaps not." I recognize the material, and I was incensed when I first saw it. I know who is doing it. I don't know why. The back story is this: A couple of years ago, I was one of a group of writers, all of whom were unhappy with the same publisher. One of us had a “right of first refusal” clause in her contract. That meant that she was obligated to submit her next book to this publisher. To get her out of it, some of us got together and wrote her a very bad “book” to submit and be summarily rejected, thus satisfying her contractual obligations. It was a very funny allegorical story about that publisher. What’s now being serialized on that board is that “book,” or the bare bones of it, anyway.

The title has, of course, been changed, as have the characters’ names, and what looks to be a great chunk of the text has been drastically rewritten. Permission to use any of my contributions was never obtained and it angered me that this piece of deliberately badly written and misspelled drivel should ever see the light of day in any venue, never mind that it looks very different. I recognize it. And I’m still not happy about it. The knots in my knickers, however, are coming undone as I see the reactions of other posters on that board.

The piece is in a forum of threads all pertaining to that particular publisher. The comments are never complimentary of that publisher; in fact, they’re oftentimes downright caustic. They have no clue what this "thing" is or for what purpose it was written. So, what is it that would prompt a clamor to remove the whole thread because it’s nasty, insulting, derogatory, yada yada yada? A couple of days ago, I would have been perfectly happy to see it yanked, because I wasn’t informed and because I’m certain there’s some hidden agenda. Now, I have to admit to a morbid curiosity about why pots are calling kettles black. Will they boil over? Stick? Tarnish? Burn? Stay tuned, as the pots roll.

Any time I think things can’t get much stranger, they do, and that is the truth as I know it.

Words Gone Wild have gone hog-wild today, wallowing around in Twisted Linguistics and having themselves a high old time.

I get asked this question a lot. At long last, a definitive answer is revealed. So, what planet are YOU from?

You Are From Mercury

You are talkative, clever, and knowledgeable - and it shows.You probably never leave home without your cell phone!You're witty, expressive, and aware of everything going on around you.You love learning, playing, and taking in all of what life has to offer.Be careful not to talk your friends' ears off, and temper your need to know everything.

12 comments:

It could be coincidence if large parts are different, but more likely it is one of the other authors who probably found it on their computer and is just having fun. If it is change it is hard to link to you outside of those who know you were a part of it.

I would never work out of my house. How would I call in sick if I did and where would I go to leave work?

You are a dark, mysterious soul, full of magic and the secrets of the universe.You can get the scoop on anything, but you keep your own secrets locked in your heart.You love change and you use it to your advantage, whether by choice or chance.You don't like to compromise, to the point of being self-destructive with your stubborness.Live life with love, and your deep powers will open the world to you.

You're energetic, althletic, and totally hyperactive.You love playing sports and being in the middle of all of the action.You're independent, corageous, and brave. Unafraid to do things your way.Mars can be reckless, quick tempered, and a little too spontaneous.So think before you act - and resist your natural urges to dominate others.

SJ, can't you just explain there what you explained here? Seems to me that would take care of the issue.

I've worked out of my home for years and I LOVE it. I keep my own hours, there's no boss breathing down my neck, I don't have to get dressed if I don't to, I can take off and go somewhere whenever I please, and if I decide to watch TV in the middle of the day (not that I ever do), there's one to stop me. I can care for my pets when they need me (no kids unless you count my hubby). I'm not a social butterfly, so not seeing other people doesn't bother me. Sometimes I literally don't leave my house for weeks.

I'm from Pluto, too, Roxan.

You are a dark, mysterious soul, full of magic and the secrets of the universe.You can get the scoop on anything, but you keep your own secrets locked in your heart.You love change and you use it to your advantage, whether by choice or chance.You don't like to compromise, to the point of being self-destructive with your stubborness.Live life with love, and your deep powers will open the world to you.

Why, hello, Little Bird. It's so nice to see someone from my home planet. LOL.

Rex, I can see the Mars connection in you. Plus, there's that whole "men are from Mars" thing. :)

Lesia, I like to be at home but I think I'd go stir crazy if I stayed in for weeks at a time. I really liked having a home business, but I did miss connecting with other people. Regarding the "situation," screw it. People are gonna do what they're gonna do. I'm in one of those "don't give a crap" places.

Arte y Pico Award

About Me

You can call me "Serena" or SJ or you can just call me Sherry. If you call me anything else, I'll hear about it. Believe it. I write every now and then and I ... read. I love a good mystery/thriller. If it has me up late, double-checking the locks on the doors, it's hit the mark. I want... Well, I'll let you know when I know.
I ADORE comments, by the way (hint-hint).